WSRE Press Room
Early Christmas Gift to be Delivered to WSRE's Lawrence Welk Fans
After a successful August fundraising drive, as well as the success of WSRE’s annual Wine & Food Classic in October, WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast, is proud to announce the return of the popular “Lawrence Welk Show” to the schedule beginning December 2011. “The Lawrence Welk Show” was one of several program and station initiatives lost after the elimination of all state funding for Florida public broadcasting stations in May 2011.
“WSRE is thrilled to bring ‘The Lawrence Welk Show’ back to the schedule. Our viewers and supporters were quite disappointed to lose this endearing program due to the loss of state funding and their outcry is a testament to the loyalty and support we receive every day from our viewers,” said Sandy Cesaretti Ray, WSRE general manager. “We will kick off the program’s return to the schedule on December 3 with a special Lawrence Welk program during our winter fundraising drive, and it will then return to the regular schedule on Saturdays at 7 p.m. beginning December 17. We heard from a number of upset viewers since the program’s removal in August. As a public media TV station we are beholden to the public we serve and are happy to be able to deliver an early Christmas gift in the form of restoring their favorite program back on television,” said Ray.
Viewers can tune in on Saturday, December 3 at 7 p.m. for “Lawrence Welk: Precious Memories” and Saturday, December 10 at 7 p.m. for “Lawrence Welk’s Big Band Splash.” WSRE will be live on-air December 3 to hear from viewers and supporters of “The Lawrence Welk Show.”
In May 2011, all funding for public broadcasting was vetoed from the Florida Legislature’s budgeted appropriation of $4.8 million for Florida public broadcasting stations, of which WSRE was to receive approximately $307,000. This record loss resulted in the loss of five WSRE personnel positions. Local productions were put on hiatus and longtime viewer favorite “The Lawrence Welk Show” was removed from the schedule to reduce programming costs. “The Lawrence Welk Show” is one of several public television programs the station airs that is acquired from sources other than PBS. The SightLine reading service was continued through a partnership between WSRE and WUWF Public Media in September.